Friday Updates May/June 2008

Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
May 9, 2008

I have talked with you from time to time about my appreciation for the great things that mothers are able to do (No offense: Mr. Keener, Mr. Vest, Mr. Squire, Mr. Washington, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Rucker & Mr. Schmoyer). My career in education has blessed me with the opportunity to work with many wonderfully gifted people and most of them have been women. Whether you are a mother or not, please know that we appreciate what you do every day for our students.

Happy Mother’sDay


“A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.” ~Author Unknown

Next week
Monday 5/12 – Happy Monday

Tuesday 5/13 – Staff meeting (This one will go a little past 4:00), Noche Hispana

Wednesday 5/14 – Principals meeting (PM), Training for EOG for test administrators 3:00 (If you did not attend May 8)
Thursday 5/15 – Kindergarten to Children's Theater, Principals meeting (AM) 1st grade to Patterson Farm, Staff Ice cream social

Friday 5/16 – K to Sciworks (Lawrence, Moss, Council, Dosek), Backyard Burger Night

Saturday 5/17 – SW miniature golf at Jimmy Mac’s

Week of 5/19 - 5/23 – (5/19) EOG (5/20) EOG, SIT meeting, Parent Advisory Council (5/21) EOG, Dr. Zwadyk visit (5/22) EOG (5/23) TGIF

Looking ahead
May 19-23 – End of grade tests
May 29 – Field Day (3rd grade in AM), 5th grade picnic, AR recognition (1:45-2:15)
May 30 – Field Day (4th grade in AM, 5th grade in PM)
June 6 – 5th grade award celebration (1:00)

Duty Schedule
Breakfast – Weiss, Parra, East

Bus – Allen, King, Gheen, Steadman, Burke, Hutcheson, Trinkle

Car riders – Morning – Overby, Salamanca, Twyman
Afternoon – Caller – Wessell, Barnes, Lee
Inside – Biggam, Alexander, Vernon
Outside – Pennington, Keeney, Bowser, Everhardt, Herko, Robinson
Hall – Bowser(lounge), Everhardt(computer lab)

FYI/Reminders
-Get well to Jan Hipp who is still experiencing back trouble
-Congratulations to one of our newly expecting mothers, Maria Vernon, who found out that she is expecting a baby boy in Oct.
-Sign up for a conference on the schedule outside Mike’s office

Staff Stars (There are too many good deeds to list them all. Over the course of the year, I would like to recognize as many as possible)
Southwest staff – Thank you for the job you do every day!
Leadership team – Thank you for keeping our ship going in the right direction
Kindergarten screening “crew” – Thanks for your help to successfully screen 141 students
Field day “crew” – Great job with field day (rain or shine!)

Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
May 9, 2008

I have talked with you from time to time about my appreciation for the great things that mothers are able to do (No offense: Mr. Keener, Mr. Vest, Mr. Squire, Mr. Washington, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Rucker & Mr. Schmoyer). My career in education has blessed me with the opportunity to work with many wonderfully gifted people and most of them have been women. Whether you are a mother or not, please know that we appreciate what you do every day for our students.

Happy Mother’sDay


“A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.” ~Author Unknown

Next week
Monday 5/12 – Happy Monday

Tuesday 5/13 – Staff meeting (This one will go a little past 4:00), Noche Hispana

Wednesday 5/14 – Principals meeting (PM), Training for EOG for test administrators 3:00 (If you did not attend May 8)
Thursday 5/15 – Kindergarten to Children's Theater, Principals meeting (AM) 1st grade to Patterson Farm, Staff Ice cream social

Friday 5/16 – K to Sciworks (Lawrence, Moss, Council, Dosek), Backyard Burger Night

Saturday 5/17 – SW miniature golf at Jimmy Mac’s

Week of 5/19 - 5/23 – (5/19) EOG (5/20) EOG, SIT meeting, Parent Advisory Council (5/21) EOG, Dr. Zwadyk visit (5/22) EOG (5/23) TGIF

Looking ahead
May 19-23 – End of grade tests
May 29 – Field Day (3rd grade in AM), 5th grade picnic, AR recognition (1:45-2:15)
May 30 – Field Day (4th grade in AM, 5th grade in PM)
June 6 – 5th grade award celebration (1:00)

Duty Schedule
Breakfast – Weiss, Parra, East

Bus – Allen, King, Gheen, Steadman, Burke, Hutcheson, Trinkle

Car riders – Morning – Overby, Salamanca, Twyman
Afternoon – Caller – Wessell, Barnes, Lee
Inside – Biggam, Alexander, Vernon
Outside – Pennington, Keeney, Bowser, Everhardt, Herko, Robinson
Hall – Bowser(lounge), Everhardt(computer lab)

FYI/Reminders
-Get well to Jan Hipp who is still experiencing back trouble
-Congratulations to one of our newly expecting mothers, Maria Vernon, who found out that she is expecting a baby boy in Oct.
-Sign up for a conference on the schedule outside Mike’s office

Staff Stars (There are too many good deeds to list them all. Over the course of the year, I would like to recognize as many as possible)
Southwest staff – Thank you for the job you do every day!
Leadership team – Thank you for keeping our ship going in the right direction
Kindergarten screening “crew” – Thanks for your help to successfully screen 141 students
Field day “crew” – Great job with field day (rain or shine!)

Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
May 16, 2008

It is finally time for our students to get the chance to “show their stuff.” You have worked hard to prepare them to do well and they WILL do well. Our 4th graders just showed how well they were prepared with our preliminary writing score results. The EOG’s will also show the results of your hard work. Thank you for a great year!

******In order to effectively conduct our end of grade tests, many people have to help. Please check Debbie Herrin’s email from 5/15/08 to be sure that you are informed about personnel needed, rooms used, specials, etc.

“Change does not change tradition. It strengthens it. Change is a challenge and an opportunity; not a threat.” - Prince Phillip of England

Next week
Monday 5/19 – EOG

Tuesday 5/20 – EOG, SIT meeting, Parent Advisory Council

Wednesday 5/21 – EOG
Thursday 5/22 – EOG

Friday 5/23 – Last day for AR tests, Staff appreciation lunch

Week of 5/26 - 5/30 – (5/26) Holiday – no school (5/27) 4th grade to Raleigh, 3rd & 5th remediation (5/28) 3rd & 5th remediation, Kathy Wilheit shower (5/29) Tech facilitator meeting, 3rd & 5th remediation, 3rd grade field day, 5th grade picnic, AR party, 5th grade SS meeting (5/30) 4th grade field day, 3rd & 5th remediation, 2nd grade party, 5th grade field day

Looking ahead
May 19-23 – End of grade tests
May 29 – Field Day (3rd grade in AM), 5th grade picnic, AR recognition (1:45-2:15)
May 30 – Field Day (4th grade in AM, 5th grade in PM)
June 6 – 5th grade award celebration (1:00)
June 10 – Last day of school
June 11 – PTA lunch for staff
June 12 – End of year staff meeting (8:30-11:15), Hospitality staff lunch (12:00-1:30)

Duty Schedule
Breakfast – Vernon, Church, Schmoyer

Bus – Allen, King, Gheen, Steadman, Burke, Hutcheson, Trinkle

Car riders – Morning – Overby, Salamanca, Twyman
Afternoon – Caller – Wessell, Barnes, Lee
Inside – Biggam, Alexander, Vernon
Outside – Pennington, Keeney, Bowser, Everhardt, Herko, Robinson
Hall – Bowser(lounge), Everhardt(computer lab)

FYI/Reminders
-Get well to Jan Hipp who is still experiencing back trouble. Jan’s new rehab program seems to be doing well!
-If you know of upcoming absences that you will have because of appointments, etc., please go ahead and put them into the sub system so that our payroll will be correct for the end of the year.
-If you have certificates that I need to sign, please plan ahead because it is impossible to sign them all during the last week.

Staff Stars (There are too many good deeds to list them all. Over the course of the year, I would like to recognize as many as possible)
Southwest staff – Thank you for the job you do every day!
Leadership team – Thank you for keeping our ship going in the right direction
Testing administrators, proctors, and helpers – Thanks for all your help!
Noche Hispana “crew” – Great job with Noche Hispana
Great job with 4th grade writing results!


Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
May 23, 2008

WOW….What a week! The week of end of grade test is always extremely stressful. I fully expect our scores to be good, but with state tests there is never any guarantee. Thank you for all of the hard work to prepare our students from Kindergarten all the way through fifth grade.

To effectively conduct our end of grade tests, many people have to help. We need to send a special thank you to Mrs. Herrin and every person who was involved with the tests. THANK YOU!!

“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I may not forget you.”
William Arthur

Next week
Monday 5/26 – Holiday – no school

Tuesday 5/27 – 4th grade to Raleigh, 3rd & 5th remediation

Wednesday 5/28 – 3rd & 5th remediation, Kathy Wilheit shower
Thursday 5/29 – Tech facilitator meeting, 3rd & 5th remediation, 3rd grade field day, 5th grade picnic, AR party, 5th grade SS meeting

Friday 5/30 – 4th grade field day, 3rd & 5th remediation, 2nd grade party, 5th grade field day

Week of 6/2 - 6/6 – (6/2) 3rd and 5th grade retests, 3rd grade party (6/3) 3rd and 5th grade retests, Principals’ meeting, 4th grade party (6/4) 3rd and 5th grade retests, 1st grade party (6/5) 3rd and 5th grade retest make-ups, Kindergarten party, AR celebration (6/6) 5th grade awards celebration

Looking ahead
May 29 – Field Day (3rd grade in AM), 5th grade picnic, AR recognition (1:45-2:15)
May 30 – Field Day (4th grade in AM, 5th grade in PM)
June 6 – 5th grade award celebration (1:00)
June 10 – Last day of school
June 11 – PTA lunch for staff
June 12 – End of year staff meeting (8:30-11:15), Hospitality staff lunch (12:00-1:30)

Duty Schedule
Breakfast – Salamanca, Biggam, Womble

Bus – Allen, King, Gheen, Steadman, Burke, Hutcheson, Trinkle

Car riders – Morning – Overby, Salamanca, Twyman
Afternoon – Caller – Wessell, Barnes, Lee
Inside – Biggam, Alexander, Vernon
Outside – Pennington, Keeney, Bowser, Everhardt, Herko, Robinson
Hall – Bowser(lounge), Everhardt(computer lab)

FYI/Reminders
-If you know of upcoming absences that you will have because of appointments, etc., please go ahead and put them into the sub system so that our payroll will be correct for the end of the year.
-If you have certificates that I need to sign, please plan ahead because it is impossible to sign them all during the last week.
-End of year brown envelopes should filed in the health room in the brown envelope file cabinet.

Staff Stars (There are too many good deeds to list them all. Over the course of the year, I would like to recognize as many as possible)
Southwest staff – Thank you for the job you do every day!
Leadership team – Thank you for keeping our ship going in the right direction
Mrs. Herrin, Testing administrators, proctors, and helpers – Thanks for all your help with EOG!
Mr. Keener, Ms. Moore and Mr. Squire – Thank you for your help to prepare for our staff lunch.

Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
May 30, 2008

The end of the year is a crazy time! Our field days and grade level parties today showed us how busy it can get. We all have much to do and many tasks to complete, but be sure and take the time to enjoy these lasts days. We work too hard to get to this point in the year to let “little things” get in the way of enjoying the celebrations with our students. Thank you for all of your time and preparation to make the end of year events meaningful for our children.

"Unless each day can be looked back upon by an individual as one in which he has had some fun, some joy, some real satisfaction, that day is a loss." Anon

Next week
Monday 6/2 – 3rd and 5th grade remediation, 3rd grade party

Tuesday 6/3 – 3rd and 5th grade retests, Principals’ meeting, 4th grade party, 4th grade SS pacing guide meeting (CO auditorium), SIT mtg.

Wednesday 6/4 – 3rd and 5th grade retests, 1st grade party
Thursday 6/5 – 3rd and 5th grade retest make-ups, Kindergarten party,

Friday 6/6 – 5th grade awards celebration (Kindergarten moved to the front of the lunch schedule – everyone else is the same)

Week of 6/9 - 6/13 – (6/9) AR celebration (6/10) Last day of school!!! (6/11) Workday, PTA staff lunch (6/12) End of year staff meeting, Hospitality lunch (6/13) Principal meeting

Looking ahead
June 6 – 5th grade award celebration (1:00)
June 10 – Last day of school
June 11 – PTA lunch for staff
June 12 – End of year staff meeting (8:30-11:15), Hospitality staff lunch (12:00-1:30)

Duty Schedule
Breakfast – Weiss, Parra, East

Bus – Allen, King, Gheen, Steadman, Burke, Hutcheson, Trinkle

Car riders – Morning – Overby, Salamanca, Twyman
Afternoon – Caller – Wessell, Barnes, Lee
Inside – Biggam, Alexander, Vernon
Outside – Pennington, Keeney, Bowser, Everhardt, Herko, Robinson
Hall – Bowser(lounge), Everhardt(computer lab)

FYI/Reminders
-As we prepare to do announcements on TV next year, we are checking the equipment. Please see the email from Mrs. Bowser.
***If you have certificates that I need to sign, please plan ahead because it is impossible to sign them all during the last week.
-End of year brown envelopes should filed in the brown envelope file cabinet which has been moved to the records room.
***Supervision is really important at the end of the school year. On June 6, 9 & 10 everyone should help with afternoon duties to maintain order***
***Class rosters will be in your grade level chairs mailbox on Monday morning. Instructions for filling out the rosters will be attached***
PBS stuff:
May 29th-June 4th : Meet with your committee and complete the TASK ANALYSIS FORM
By June 12th: Complete and turn in 6 lesson plans to Kim Moore.
June 13th: PBS Committee Meeting. Time to be announced.
August 12th : PBS Committee Meeting at 9:30.
August 18th: First day back for SW staff - PBS STAFF KICK-OFF!!!

Staff Stars (There are too many good deeds to list them all. Over the course of the year, I would like to recognize as many as possible)
Southwest staff – Thank you for the job you do every day!
Leadership team – Thank you for keeping our ship going in the right direction
Southwest housekeepers – Thanks for all your help to keep us clean during the “party season”
Mr. Keener - Congratulations on receiving approval for another mini-grant
Mr. Squire – Thank you for the delicious fish for lunch.
YMCA staff – Thanks for the breakfast
K-2 teachers – Great job with end of year assessments
3–5 teachers – Great job with EOG scores. Thanks for your help with retests, remediation, etc.


Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
June 6, 2008

We are down to only 2 days of school left! I know that we all have been swamped with the “regular” end of year tasks in addition to our work to get ready to implement Positive Behavior Support. We are all stressed, but please know that the work that we are doing now will pay off for 2008-09. Southwest is W A Y ahead of my previous school in terms of being ready for PBS.
As I have said, it is hard to finish one year well while planning for the next. Your involvement and ideas will help to ensure that next year goes as smoothly as possible. Thank you for all of your time and preparation to help us end this year well while getting ready for next year!

~ Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted. ~ David Bly

Next week
Monday 6/9 – AR End of year party
Tuesday 6/10 – Last day of school!!!
Wednesday 6/11 – Workday, PTA staff lunch
Thursday 6/12 – End of year staff meeting (8:30-11:15), Hospitality lunch (11:30ish)
Friday 6/13 – PBS committee meeting, Principal training

FIRST WEEK of SUMMER!!!

Looking ahead
June 9 – AR end of year party
June 10 – Last day of school
June 11 – PTA lunch for staff
June 12 – End of year staff meeting (8:30-11:15), Hospitality staff lunch (12:00-1:30)
***Part of our end of year staff meeting will be spent talking with the grades above and below. As a grade level, please be ready to share PLUS (what went well?) and DELTA (what can we improve?) regarding student skills, routines, etc.. Make sure that your feedback is fact-based, respectful, professional and appropriate.

Duty Schedule
Breakfast – Weiss, Parra, East

Bus – Allen, King, Gheen, Steadman, Burke, Hutcheson, Trinkle

Car riders – Morning – Overby, Salamanca, Twyman
Afternoon – Caller – Wessell, Barnes, Lee
Inside – Biggam, Alexander, Vernon
Outside – Pennington, Keeney, Bowser, Everhardt, Herko, Robinson
Hall – Bowser(lounge), Everhardt(computer lab)

FYI/Reminders
-As we prepare to do announcements on TV next year, we are checking the equipment. Please see the email from Mrs. Bowser.
***If you have certificates that I need to sign, please plan ahead because it is impossible to sign them all during the last week.
-End of year brown envelopes should filed in the brown envelope file cabinet which has been moved to the records room.
***Supervision is really important at the end of the school year. On June 9 & 10 everyone should help with afternoon duties to maintain order****

PBS stuff:
May 29th-June 4th : Meet with your committee and complete the TASK ANALYSIS FORM
By June 12th: Complete and turn in 6 lesson plans to Kim Moore.
June 13th: PBS Committee Meeting. Time to be announced.
August 12th : PBS Committee Meeting at 9:30.
August 18th: First day back for SW staff - PBS STAFF KICK-OFF!!!

Staff Stars (There are too many good deeds to list them all. Over the course of the year, I would like to recognize as many as possible)
Southwest staff – Thank you for the job you do every day!
Leadership team – Thank you for keeping our ship going in the right direction
5th grade, Kindergarten, Music teachers – Nice job with the 5th grade celebration.
Thank you to those of you who will not be with us next year. Southwest is a special place to “work” and we appreciate all that you have done for our school.

Sharon Gheen Janet Jones Anna Keeney Traci Petree Nancy Robinson